Atlus Shop closes down, teams up with Amazon

[Roufuss]

Heard from my friend that Atlus had closed down their online shop, and sure enough, they have.

The email reads as this:




Dear Atlus Shop customer,

Thank you for purchasing direct from Atlus in the past.
The Atlus Shop you all knew and (possibly) loved is no more. In the interests of making sure that customers are getting the best shopping experience possible, we've teamed up with Amazon.com. Expect faster order processing, free shipping*, and exclusive special promotions... not unlike this nifty $5.00 off promotional code.



Yes, Atlus sent me a $5 off anything Amazon code, which I plan on using on Arcana Heart to support the new junction. They should be sending the code to anyone who was a past customer or who signed up for their new newsletter. And yes, they encourage that as well.

So, while I'll miss the Atlus Shop, I greatly love Amazon (even have Prime) and I hope this move will be big for Atlus, because this means Amazon should get ample supply of the games now and it's one less reason for me to go to Gamestop.

Exclusive promotions also sounds kick ass.. as if Atlus needs to give me MORE reason to spend my money on their products ;) I imagine they will give more promotions through the new newsletter.

Definitely a great move on Atlus's part... even if Gamestop decides they don't feel like stocking Persona 4 (if it comes to the US, it'll definitely be Q4 2008, not sure if Gamestop is going to still keep getting in PS2 games then), I bet Amazon will have no problem stocking it.

[Hwj_Chim]

Looks like I will be using amazon more.

[Fuyukaze]

Looks as if I'll have a use for Amazon after all. Well, beyond making smart ass coments about.

[josekortez]

Definitely a great move on Atlus's part... even if Gamestop decides they don't feel like stocking Persona 4 (if it comes to the US, it'll definitely be Q4 2008, not sure if Gamestop is going to still keep getting in PS2 games then), I bet Amazon will have no problem stocking it.

I doubt Gamestop wouldn't stock Persona 4 if only to secure more pre-orders and to keep moving PS2 stock. I don't think the PS2 will be dead by then - lying on the floor in a coked-out daze, maybe.

[Tron 2.0]

I've never used,Atlus shop still good news for me given how much i use amazon.

I guess atlus thought useing amazon will reach more customers for them.

[heybtbm]

even if Gamestop decides they don't feel like stocking Persona 4 (if it comes to the US, it'll definitely be Q4 2008, not sure if Gamestop is going to still keep getting in PS2 games then).

I have to say, that is some asinine logic. GS will sell PS2 games as long as they are still being released.

[sisko]

What does the asterisk mean in regards to free shipping?

For Amazon Prime members or for ther standard Super Saver thing?

[smork]

Too bad Amazon won't ship games overseas, the rat bastards.

[roushimsx]

Awesome. I loved the Atlus shop in the past (great service), but I use the hell out of Amazon. I can't think of any other third party stores on Amazon that offer free shipping (at least of the ones I use), so this is extremely good news to me (as I always pick the free shipping option when it's available).

[Roufuss]

I have to say, that is some asinine logic. GS will sell PS2 games as long as they are still being released.

There is already PS2 games they aren't carrying that just came out (World Heroes and Fatal Fury Vol 2, both from SNK), and there is already games being released they are barely getting any of, like Heavenly Guardian.

It's not such a stretch to imagine Gamestop doesn't want to bother with any new copies of Persona 4. Will it happen? Probably not. But I also would have thought you were crazy if you told me "Hey, SNK's newest collections won't be at Gamestop, ever!".

[Sudo]

There is already PS2 games they aren't carrying that just came out (World Heroes and Fatal Fury Vol 2, both from SNK), and there is already games being released they are barely getting any of, like Heavenly Guardian.

It's not such a stretch to imagine Gamestop doesn't want to bother with any new copies of Persona 4. Will it happen? Probably not. But I also would have thought you were crazy if you told me "Hey, SNK's newest collections won't be at Gamestop, ever!".

If you pre order a game, they'll definitely get at least one copy. That's what I always do for the Atlus games, since other stores around here either never get them or get them late.

[Roufuss]

If you pre order a game, they'll definitely get at least one copy. That's what I always do for the Atlus games, since other stores around here either never get them or get them late.

Tried to preorder both World Heroes Anthology and Fatal Fury Battle Archives Vol. 2... can't preorder what isn't in the system and they are never receiving stock of ;)

They were never on the website either.

I mean, I'm sure Gamestop will get Persona 4, but I'm just throwing out a what if and now at least Atlus has a guaranteed place to distribute it should it come to the US, along with other games.

[Xexyz]

The pre-order analogy falls through when you consider their policy on budget releases. GameStop will not accept pre-orders for any new release with an MSRP $19.99 or under.

This new Atlus deal is great news. Now I won't be pre-ordering anything at GameStop anymore :D

[Roufuss]

This new Atlus deal is great news. Now I won't be pre-ordering anything at GameStop anymore :D

The $5 coupon they give out when you sign up for the newsletter / were an old customer is awesome too... Arcana Heart for $24.99 shipped free no tax? Awesome!

And it sounds like Atlus is going to be giving us deals on their games through the newsletter through Amazon, that is what has me really excited.

[Wraith Storm]

This is great news for me! I use Amazon all the time (Mostly for my obscure Italian movies that no one wants to stock!!!) and now i can get my obscure games that no one wants to stock all in the same place :D

I also like the fact that I have less of a reason to support Gamestop. I try not to support them if possible, but sometimes Amazon runs out of stock and Gamestop is the only place in the area that still has a copy of a game that I want.

[Damaramu]

Agreed. My continued support of Amazon is another middle finger to Gamestop from me.

I've had GS managers laugh and say, "If you don't pre-order such and such game, we won't carry it and you can't find it any where else!"

The hell I can't.

Not to mention, the GS closest to me condensed their PS2 section heavily. Used games have been reduced to about 5 or 6 shelves, new games are now shelved near the PC games, spines out. Anyone else seeing this?

Anyway, getting off track here, go Atlus and Amazon!

[Roufuss]

Don't really want to post a rumor in here, but it makes sense -

Got wind of this from CAG, but apparently some Ebay seller showed up with about 10 copies each of Nocturne, sealed, and listed them at a firesale price of around $70 - he sold out right away, naturally.

Now, Play-Asia all of a sudden has new copies of the game up for sale.

It's being rumored there is a reprint, and I wouldn't be surprised - I could have seen Gamestop passing on a reprint of this game (they have been burned plenty of times with reprints of in demand games just not selling), and Atlus not having the distribution channels to properly re-release a high profile game like this themselves, but now they can just use Amazon's channels to do it. Would also be a killer way to celebrate the new found union.

I'd be super excited if the game popped up on Amazon this week, but it's only a RUMOR for now!

[roushimsx]

Got wind of this from CAG, but apparently some Ebay seller showed up with about 10 copies each of Nocturne, sealed, and listed them at a firesale price of around $70 - he sold out right away, naturally.


This part of the rumor always works best when you link it to the auctions in question (which I can't seem to find after searching the completed auctions). Hope it's true though, because I'd love to see more people able to play the game... even if Devil Summoner was more fun :P

edit - here's a dude's storefront on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/index.html?ie=UTF8&sellerID=AR4NNIQ7L46AT) where he's selling 'em for $70/new, though I don't see why anyone would pick that over Play Asia's (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-43-49-en-70-bug.html) reasonable price of $45+shipping.

[bcks007]

Thanks man, i just bought a copy. I needed the no soundtrack version of Nocturne to add to my collection. :)